Shadow Lover (37 page)

He saw her, of course, immediately, and all the laughter fled from his face as he froze. The man beside him barreled into him, cursing and laughing beneath his breath.

"There you are," the woman with the baby called out. "This woman has gotten lost. She's looking for her cousin. Do you know of any other Americans around, Paolo?"

The second man shook his head. "No,
cara
. Just this mangy bastard here." He moved around Alex's frozen figure and planted a kiss on the woman's cheek. "Are we staying for dinner?"

The British woman looked from Alex's strange expression to Carolyn's, and a smile curled her lips. "I don't think so, darling. I think the young woman found what she was looking for, after all." She handed him the baby. "Come along, darling."

She didn't even see them leave. There must have been another way into the tangled property, because suddenly they were gone, and Alex had made no move toward her.

"What are you doing here?"

He sounded more reserved than unwelcoming, but she was past the point of being sensitive. "It started to snow in
Vermont
and I knew I couldn't stand another winter there. I thought she was your wife," she said abruptly.

That startled him. "Anna? She's married to Paolo. I've never been married. I told you that."

"You told me a lot of things."

A faint smile curved his lush mouth, the mouth that she remembered so well. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"

"Why didn't you take the money? Sally wanted you to have it."

"Sally got her way too much in this life. It was blood money, and I didn't need it."

"What about me?"

He shrugged carelessly, but she could see beyond his studied indifference to something that made her palms sweat and her stomach twist in delectable knots. "I don't know whether you need all that money or not. It's up to you."

"That's not what I'm talking about," she said. "You said you don't need the money. Do you need me?"

He looked absolutely trapped. "Do I have to answer that?"

"Considering I came thousands of miles to ask the question, yes."

She hadn't realized he was moving closer. A slow, dangerous
pace,
and she realized he wasn't the only one who was trapped—she was as well. Predator and prey, both of them.

He stopped in front of her, and his skin was smooth and silken in the bright Mediterranean sun, and she wanted to press her mouth against his throat. He cupped her neck, his big, strong hand,
rough
with calluses, gentle on her smooth skin. "I need you," he said. "I can even put up with all that goddamn
MacDowell
money if I have to."

He kissed her, a slow, deep, possessive kiss that was like the wellspring of life. When he pulled back he could see the tears in her eyes and he smiled.

"Big of you," she muttered.

"Very big," he agreed. "I'm going to have to cancel my plane
reservations,
I was coming to get you next week."

"Great minds think alike," she said. His hands were on her breasts, and all she wanted was to lie with him in the bright Tuscan sun.

"I still haven't told you," he said.

"Told me what?"

"I'm in love with you. I have been since you were thirteen."

She smiled up at him and began unbuttoning her shirt. "Of course you are," she said. "Did it take you this long to figure it out?"

"No," he said. "I just had to give you enough time to make sure you knew what you're doing."

"At least we know you're not marrying me for my money."

He raised an eyebrow. "Who says I'm marrying you?"

"Are you?"

"As soon as I can find a priest," he said. He pulled her into his arms. "And guess what?" His mouth hovered over hers, tempting.

"What?" she echoed dazedly.

"It hardly ever snows in
Tuscany
."

* * * * *